Interesting Fire Department stuff.

[Aktungbby]

73,700 acres burned; 3,921 personnel-(up 400); 84 crews; 72 dozers..
+6; Suppression crews made good progress today constructing and improving control lines. Smoke could be seen from burning interior islands, well within the fire's perimeter. Temperatures rose today, starting a warming trend that will reach in excess of 99 degrees by this weekend. This afternoon, residents in and around the community of Berryessa Estates were allowed to return to their homes. The cancellation of additional evacuation orders are being evaluated based on a variety of factors including potential fire behavior and re-establishment of critical infrastructure
Tens of thousands of residents evacuated from the Valley Fire have been told that it will be days before they’re able to get back into their homes--and that’s a best case scenario. The fire must no longer be a threat, roads have to be passable and power restored.
With hundreds of homes and businesses cremated, a lot of people need to make long term plans. Their lives will literally never be the same.
The Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga has been transformed into a tent city, with an army of volunteers helping evacuees and utilizing donations with military precision.
Generous residents poured into the fairgrounds tent city carrying food, beverages, clothing, diapers, tents, sleeping bags--whatever the evacuees need. In fact, people have been so generous that no more donations are needed. We do it right in wine country!

[Aktungbby]

The Valley Fire now rated as 4th most destructive. Cadaver dogs are combing areas; three fatalities are now known. The fire is about 70% contained; however the weather is very hot and that's not good with winds. 75,781 acres burned=about 307 sq. kilometres! The refugees are transferring back to a new facility at a large Indian casino near Middletown and evacuations are not contemplated. Thus far over 1000 homes are destroyed; the number of the "other' structures (sheds, paddocks, garages etc) has not been tallied. The soot is drifted to my house 20 miles south.

[fireftr18]

Aktungboy, I didn't realize you were that close. Stay alert, and keep a constant watch on the situation. In forest fire terms, flames are licking your back side. I have a prayer for you.

[Aktungbby]

Not to worry! those are very imperial miles as the crow flies; the incessant prevailing westerly's wind and a range of hills formed a barrier to the north. However: The mountains to my direct west about 2-5 miles are susceptible to a similar problem though. Known as the Mayacamas Range and 2500-4500 (actually Cobb Mtn just west of now-incinerated Cobb) feet in elevation they are the southern extension of the present fire's range. They separate Sonoma from Napa. A fire there in the very steep, dense, dry manzanita/redwood undergrowth and I'll be heading to Motel 6 in San Francisco or Sacramento. Fire emergency access is hopelessly difficult along 10mph switchback/winding 1lane roads. Ash and flaming embers blowing in 30 mph winds would be a real hazard. Due to the soot, today was a "spare-the-air-day'.. no BBQ's or open fires of any sort permitted. Temps in the 90's.

[Aktungbby]

The third-most-destructive blaze in state history was 75 percent contained today as officials released a staggering tally showing that the Valley Fire wiped out 1,325 homes and businesses. Firefighters have continued to mop up and secure more of the fire's perimeter. Damage Inspection Teams have nearly completed surveys of the fire area to determine how many structures have been destroyed. A second survey has been initiated to confirm initial findings. Current data indicates that the fire has destroyed 1910 structures; including 1238 single-family homes, 23 multi-family homes, 64 commercial structures, and 585 other structures such as sheds and smaller outbuildings.
The Lake County blaze — which ignited Sept. 12 near Middletown and killed three people — grew by 286 acres from Monday into Tuesday.
The inferno that forced thousands of people from their homes, often with only minutes to evacuate, has burned 76,067 acres of bone-dry wildland in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties. That remaining 25% is still dangerous if still consuming 286 acres a day....

[Buddahaid]

It's just terrible and even worse when I think of all cats and dogs that must have perished that were peoples pets and had to remain behind. I know I would be as devastated to lose my cats as much as any other family member.

Much cooler today than yesterday here in San Rafael at least.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by oberon

I feel sorry for the poor animals in paddocks and fields, humans can at least try to escape.

The fire is at 80+ % containment. 110 square miles totally burned. President Obama has declared a disaster. Another victim has been found. I actually spoke to some Cal Fire personnel grocery shopping for their station's table. They related that approximately 40 persons are still missing...considering the modern era of electronic phones, bank tellers, pc post etc and the twelve days gone by (sometimes referred to as 'electronically dead'), that's not encouraging. @ Oberon; a bright spot: http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/valley-fire-aid-and-volunteering-extends-to-animals-too/article_e89fc2e8-ad43-55b6-89e8-bfaed097e5c8.html

As the Valley Fire tore through Lake County, flocks of volunteers came to the aid of its residents – including those of the four-legged persuasion.
While aid workers delivered food and clothing to evacuees sheltered in Calistoga and Kelseyville, others lent their efforts to numerous dogs and cats driven from their owners’ homes, as well as horses, livestock and fowl trapped by the fast-moving inferno that erupted Sept. 12 and spread to more than 76,000 acres.
Volunteer animal rescuers like Tracee Beebe, founder of Sunrise Horse Rescue in St. Helena, relied on social media, checking Facebook for posts from evacuated animal owners who had been forced to leave their pets and livestock behind. One post told of a herd of horses that had been turned loose on Hartmann Road in Hidden Valley Lake. By the time a team of volunteers reached the address, the horses had been rescued, but it turned out to be far from a wasted trip.

[Aktungbby]

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-dispensaries-free-marijuana-valley-fire-20150929-story.html

Medical marijuana dispensaries in Northern California are giving patients affected by a hugely destructive wildfire up to $200 in free cannabis per patient for the next week. Through Oct. 7, two marijuana-related product companies, Care By Design and AbsoluteXtracts, are offering free products at five dispensaries in San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol and Lake County, the companies said in a joint statement.

Originally Posted by AktungBBY

I almost moved there (Cobb) myself as it is remote and beautiful;

"Honey let's rebuild in Cobb!" (after two 'quakes & drought, I need a change of pace...)

UPDATE: 97% contained-76,067 acres consumed. Firefighters continue to improve existing lines and mopping up hot spots across the fire area. Rehabilitation is underway to restore the natural landscape that may have been altered during initial firefighting efforts. Damage Inspection Teams have completed primary and secondary assessments of the structures destroyed by the Valley Fire. A total of 1958 structures have been destroyed including; 1280 homes, 27 multi-family structures, 66 commercial properties, and 585 other minor structures such as outbuildings and sheds. 93 structures have been damaged including; 41 homes, 7 commercial properties, and 45 other minor structures. All traffic restrictions denying access into the community of Cobb and the surrounding areas will be have been lifted. Some utility services have not been restored. Schools in Middletown are open.

[Aktungbby]

AFTERMATH: 76,067 acres - 99% contained (110 sq. miles incinerated: 24th day)Four firefighter Helitak team members barely escaped; deploying their personal last-ditch emergency shelters after fleeing to a barren goat corral; they suffered serious burns but were rescued. CalFire is reviewing procedures and equipment: the plastic container melted on one man's emergency shelter container: two men shared the same shelter. This indicates too much delay in deployment...and who needs plastic at a forest fire. One of my boat crew's family had a cabin for decades in Anderson Springs (in photo above); Don, now 69, doesn't want to go look to see if it survived-too many happy memories. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-Valley-Fire-wall-of-flame-trapped-6549684.php

One of the men went to take a drink from his hydration pack, but “the water from the mouth piece was too hot to drink,” the report said.

Wiki is using one of the stunning aerial photos I already posted! for once, I'm ahead of Wiki!??? How really lucky we are. How bad it could have been :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarnell_Hill_Fire

[Aktungbby]

^the shot in questionit really is a definitive shot at that! Supreme kudos to the pilot's multitasking! Flying in famous glider hilly up-thermal country with added ferocious heat from a fire like that ain't easy!

[fireftr18]

Nice pictures Aktung. How well did Middletown do in the mess. It looks as though it was surrounded.

[Aktungbby]

I've heard 30-80% residential (subdivisions) and structural damage. "sheer devastation and entire blocks of homes just gone"! Middletown at least is on a major highway (29) And fire equipment would converge there before deploying into the remote steep area of Anderson Springs & Harbin Springs. The aerial shots are just gruesome. Cobb, the epicenter, is much worse to the west of the aerial photo. But structures are still intact there too. Cal Fire anticipates the incident being fully contained by Tuesday night. (this evening) The fire, which began Sept. 12 in Cobb, also burned into Napa and Sonoma counties. Photos tend to overemphasize the worst and do not give the best clear perspective (tunnel vision) so I refrain from dwelling on them unduly; just the dwelling stats are bad enough.


Cal Fire said 248 personnel remain committed to the mop up, patrol and landscape rehabilitation activities that remain under way in the 118-square-mile fire area. El Niño rains aren't going to be good for barren hillsides with no ground-cover to prevent slides in fire scarred areas..

Other resources committed include 15 fire engines, 10 fire crews, three helicopters and two dozers, Cal Fire said. This fire, with the 20mph dry winds actually created its own weather pattern, causing burning in several directions..
Weirdly, the Valley fire cannot have gotten too far to the east: that was 'backfired' in effect by the two previous Jerusalem & Rocky fires earlier in the month. Strategically speaking: Last update; the fire has been 100% contained.

[fireftr18]

This was posted on Facebook. It's a series of pictures of a firetruck from early stages of manufacturing to completed. It's extremely pic heavy, but is interesting to look through. Unfortunately, there are no explanations on the pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2652119&type=3

[fireftr18]

Here's a link to fire truck too cool to not share.

https://www.facebook.com/StreetRodFi...63259/?fref=nf

[Aktungbby]

love the decal!